Prefect Council hosted the first round of their annual dodgeball tournament during lunch in Taper Gym Oct. 27, Oct. 28 and Nov. 3. There were a total of 12 teams composed of ten students each and a maximum of one faculty member. After two more rounds of elimination, the final match will be played at the Community Time Assembly on Nov. 10.
Senior Prefect Charlie Sive ’26 said the dodgeball tournament was a concept brought from the Lower School to promote engagement in community events.
“The dodgeball tournament at the Lower School was always a [popular] event, helping to build community, but at the Upper School, it didn’t have the same energy surrounding it,” Sive said. “The primary goals were to make the event something students would rally around as they did when they were at the Lower School and to increase participation in school-organized tournaments.”
Haley Ryan ’27, a member of the team “Wim-Bishes,” said she and her team have been participating in the tournament every year because they enjoy making the matches both fun and competitive.
“It wasn’t even a question for me and my friends [to participate],” Ryan said. “We have been doing this since 8th grade, and it has consistently been the highlight of our year. The best part about playing together with my friends is that we are all naturally very competitive. Channeling that energy and seriousness into our games makes every match so much fun.”
Fletcher Graham ’27, a member of the team “Flip n Flop,” said the team’s performance in the first round was strong and that the team will focus on mindset as they prepare for their next match.
“I am feeling very optimistic about the tournament,” Graham said. “We have a great group of guys, we are super determined and we always leave everything on the court. Our first win was quite a breeze, with two of the three games having no one out when the whistle blew. Our strategy going forward is pretty simple. We know we have the talent and the skill. We just need to focus on the mental, and the winning will come.”
Dhara Jobrani ’26, a member of the team “Shanghai Sharks,” said the tournament gives students a chance to take a step back from academics.
“The best part of playing together with my friends is that the dodgeball tournament is very unserious, but it is a good break to get away from all the stress at school,” Jobrani said. “It also reminds me of all the fun times in PE [that] I miss. I really hope to win this year [since it is] my last year, but either way I know that I am going to have a lot of fun.”
